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CC's Table » Recipes » Dinners

Penne alla Vodka with Peas and Sausage

Published: Nov 22, 2020 · Modified: Oct 31, 2023 by Caitlin Charlton · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. · 2 Comments

Jump to Recipe

This recipe for Penne alla Vodka with Peas and Sausage is a delicious, comforting, and hearty pasta dish that is perfect for any occasion. This sauce is creamy and flavorful, plus it comes together in just one pot.

penne alla vodka with sausage and peas in a white bowl with another bowl, grater, and parmesan in the background.
Jump to:
  • Key Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • How to make this vodka sauce ahead of time
  • Substitutions
  • Serving tips
  • 📖 Recipe
  • Comments

This creamy penne alla vodka sauce with peas is one of my most requested recipes from my friends and family and I'm thrilled to share it with you all. This vodka sauce is my favorite pasta sauce. And that is saying a lot given my obsession with pesto.

Key Ingredients

  • Pasta- I love using penne pasta but pretty much any pasta will work.
  • Vodka- The vodka in the sauce adds a tanginess making this not just your average tomato cream sauce. The alcohol in the vodka will cook out so that it doesn't taste like alcohol and so that you can serve this to kids.
  • Sausage- I love using sweet Italian sausage for this recipe. You could also use a spicy Italian sausage, pancetta, or omit any meat all together (see notes below on these substitutions).
  • Heavy cream- The vodka in the sauce adds a tanginess making this not just your average tomato cream sauce. The alcohol in the vodka will cook out so that it doesn't taste like alcohol and so that you can serve this to kids.
  • Tomato sauce- use your favorite canned tomato sauce
  • Peas- they add a beautiful brightness to this dish and it is a great way to add some veggies in. You can certainly skip this if you do not like peas.
  • Grated Parmesan cheese- I always recommend freshly grated.

Instructions

  1. Cook the onions, garlic, and sausage in a large pot, then remove it from the pot.
  2. Add the heavy cream and reduce it by half (making it extra decadent!).
sausage, onions, and garlic cooking in a large silver pot with a wooden spoon
heavy cream reducing in a large silver pot with a wooden spoon
  1. Add the tomato sauce and vodka, along with the cooked sausage mixture.
  2. Stir in the cooked pasta, peas, and parmesan.
pink vodka sauce with sauce in a large silver pot
penne alla vodka with peas and pasta in a large silver pot

How to make this vodka sauce ahead of time

You can make the sauce a few hours ahead by keeping it covered on very low heat. Wait to add the pasta, peas, and parmesan until you are ready to serve.

Want to save this recipe to come back to it?

I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!

Alternatively, you can make the sauce up to 3 days in advance and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat the sauce on the stovetop before adding the pasta.

Pasta is best freshly cooked and I do not recommend making the pasta ahead of time.

Substitutions

  • I love adding Italian sausage to this recipe. It is delicious and makes the dish hearty. Diced pancetta is another great option that I frequently substitute the sausage for. I use 5oz of diced pancetta per pound of pasta and cook the pancetta until crispy.
  • To make this vegetarian, omit the sausage. When you add the garlic to the pot you will only need to cook it for a few seconds.
  • I love the color that the peas give and it is a great way to sneak in veggies. If you don't like peas, leave them out.

Serving tips

I like topping pasta alla vodka with freshly grated parmesan cheese. For extra brightness, you can top it with chopped parsley or fresh basil leaves.

two bowls of penne alla vodka with peas and sausage next to a glass of red wine, parmesan rind, silver fork, and grater.

What to pair with penne alla vodka

This pasta dish would be delicious with:

  • Cucumber Smash or red wine to drink
  • Caesar Salad on the side
  • Garlic bread on the side
  • Brownies with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting for dessert

If you make this creamy penne alla vodka with peas and sausage, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments below! And don't forget to tag @ccs_table in any photos you take on Instagram.

📖 Recipe

penne alla vodka with sausage and peas in a white bowl with another bowl, grater, and parmesan in the background.

Penne alla Vodka with Peas and Sausage

Creamy and decadent penne alla vodka sauce with Italian sausage and peas.
4.75 from 8 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 people
Author: Caitlin Charlton

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced, about 2 cups
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 lb Italian sausage casing removed
  • 1 pt heavy whipping cream
  • 30 oz canned tomato sauce
  • ½ cup vodka
  • 1 lb penne pasta
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese plus more for topping if desired
  • 2 tablespoon finely chopped parsley for garnish, optional

Instructions

  • Heat a large pot or dutch oven on medium heat. Add olive oil, diced onions, and a pinch of salt. Stir frequently and cook until onions are soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and sausage. Break up sausage with your spoon and cook until sausage begins to brown and is no longer pink, about 5-10 minutes. Use a spoon to remove sausage and onion mixture from the pot and set aside on a plate. Drain excess grease.
  • In the same pot, add heavy whipping cream. Bring to a low steady boil. Cook for about 15 minutes, or until the cream is reduced in half and you can briefly see the bottom of the pot when you run your spoon along the bottom.
  • Add in the tomato sauce then the vodka to the cream. Stir until fully incorporated. Add onion and sausage mixture back to the pot and stir. Bring to a low boil then reduce heat to low to simmer. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
  • While the sauce is simmering, make the pasta. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook penne pasta until al dente (typically a minute or two before the suggested time on the box). Drain.
  • Add the pasta, peas, and parmesan to the sauce. Give it all a good stir for a minute or two. Serve hot with more freshly grated parmesan and chopped parsley (optional).

Notes

  • I often substitute the sausage for diced pancetta. Cook the pancetta until crispy.
  • To make vegetarian, omit the sausage. When you add the garlic to the pot you will only need to cook it for a few seconds.
  • You can make the sauce a few hours ahead by keeping covered on very low heat. Wait to add the pasta, peas, and parmesan until you are ready to serve.
  • I love the color that the peas give and it is a great way to sneak in veggies. If you don't like peas, leave them out.

Want to save this recipe to come back to it?

I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!

Tried this recipe?Please consider leaving a review! It means the world to me!

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Comments

    4.75 from 8 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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  1. Alison says

    November 22, 2020 at 5:12 pm

    This is the best pasta ever! It’s silky and rich and cozy, perfect for sharing with others 🙂

    Reply
    • Caitlin from CC's Table says

      November 22, 2020 at 8:21 pm

      Thank you so much, Alison! I'm so happy you love it! 🙂

      Reply
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Hi, I'm Caitlin! I'm an event planner turned professionally trained chef living by the beach! I'm excited to share with you recipes and tips for how I entertain with ease by prepping ahead.

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